Do you keep in touch with your customers? How do you do that? I'll tell you some of my ideas!

When someone emails me or calls me, I immediately put them on my mailing list. Now "I" don't innundate them every day or even every week except to perhaps follow up once; however, I do place them into my email newsleter by www.RealtyTimes.com. I personalize my newsletter by writing an aritcle specific to our market or to sellers or buyers, but I keep myself in front of them every month. Some clients have turned into buying/selling clients 6 months, 1 year, 2 year's later. One client to whom I had sold a home couldn't find my telephone number because he lives out of state, and voila, my email newsletter showed up in his inbox. He called me, listed his home, and that is one story.

I also purchase personalized cards, Color for Real Estate, www.CFRE.com. They have sets of cards for five years that I have sent out to my clients on a regular basis. This is especially useful for those clients that don't have email (I know, I know ... there are still a few that do not have email.)

The third thing I do is: every year I order 1000 of the calendar magnets from www.MagnetsUSA.com. My husband puts my business card on the magnet, and I distribute them to three farming areas hand delivered by a family with lots of kids that I pay, AND I send them to my past clients - all of them. They look forward to that refrigerator magnet believe it or not, and they always have my number and face in front of them just in case they know of someone that wants to buy/sell a home or if they themselves are in the market.

Believe it or not, our former clients are not always faithful to us! I know that comes as a great surprise to all of you; however, keeping myself in their minds, in the email, in their snail mail and on their refrigerator surely helps.

I have literally learned to spend lots of money marketing myself. It does pay off. My three websites, my blog on my website, this blog, and on and on it goes. People typically don't just drop in your lap and beg you to sell their home or help them find one. YOU have to make it happen in every conceivable way. Ongoing continuing education, hearing other Realtors tell how "they" do things, and reading blogs like we have on AR are great resources.

Hi Teri: It is always good to hear what other agents are doing. I do a lot of the same things. I have used the calendars from magnets usa for years now and you are right my clients love them. I do an email newsletter that is specific to the Houston area and have done that for quite a few years also. I have just started farming again. I am using http://www.quantummail.com/ for the post cards. It is pretty cool they send them all out for me. I just choose where I want them to go.

Most of my former clients are faithful but you are right some are not so I am with you and try to keep my name in front of them.

That monthly e-newsletter is so important. Giving your potential clients value and market insight every month keeps them informed and keeps you in the front of their minds. Upcomig event listings and book and movie recommendations are some great ideas too.

Gita, yes, they seem to like them. As I said in my original post, it helps them remember who I am. Many of my clients live out of the state and have homes here, so the information helps them know what's going on in our market AND my blog on my websites are updated regularly also informing my readers of the most recent news.

Anyone besides Realtors using magnets and calendars? I'm interested to hear if they work?? I know I've always gotten them from my Realtor friends but I'm not sure they hold the same weight with mortgage brokers. Let me know if anyone has any ideas:)

Teri, I use Sharper Agent for tons of uses. Once a month there is usually a holiday or remembrance of something, so I email the ecards for that purpose. No real estate info there, simply Hi, Happy Mother's Day, etc. with my Realtor contact. When something sells, I email a photo card of that sale and remind them that if they know someone buying or selling, to think of me. They also have e-newsletters and auto-campaigns.

I have used Color For Real Estate for years, and have it on my buyer checklist to order prior to settlement. I love the personalized postcards. It also helps to know client birthdays so that you can send them a card or call.

Anyone besides Realtors using magnets and calendars? I'm interested to hear if they work?? I know I've always gotten them from my Realtor friends but I'm not sure they hold the same weight with mortgage brokers. Let me know if anyone has any ideas:)

Beth >>

Good info Teri!

Beth, I use car magnets as well as calendar and biz card magnets. As for car magnets, we put them on our husbands vehicles as well as our own and my 21 yr old daughter (very responsible & cute) has asked me to put some on her car too! (how can I tell her no) :) The comment we get over and over is, "Oh, I've heard of Success (our company), I've seen your commercials on TV"! I can tell you we have never had a commercial on TV. Mind you, this isn't just one client, this is all through the year! Even if they forget it for the moment, when they look in the yellow pages, there we are and they recognize us before anyone else.

After an initial order, you can get 25 FREE magnet calendars and 50 FREE biz card magnets from www.vistaprint.com I signed up to receive the email updates and they are faithful to send the email specials along with 20-25% coupon discounts and 80% off deals through the mail! I have also gotten FREE 50 jumbo post cards that I designed with their template as well as 100 FREE reg size postcards (just received them today!). I put them in the Chamber of Commerce spinner racks as well as mail them to my farm list.

My response has been that people love the magnets, and it keeps us in the front of their minds. (Name recognition.)

I actually have about 10 free magnetic calendars from Vista Prints on my desk right now!! HA! They are extremely good at sending out discounts, all most too good!! I wonder how they make any money??? Well, I will start using the calendars then.

I used to have my previous mortgage company all over my car, not just a magnet but vinal stickers. I even had the name on my license plate! I didn't get one phone call off of it. Well, I should correct myslef, I got 5 phone calls, 1 from a lender driving through our pkg lot wanting to sign us up, 3 from friends that were just passing me or behind me and one from the psycho guy I called first about doing the job and ended up not going through him because he was psycho!! I'm not sure if it built up any name recognition for the company itself but it sure didn't do me any good. It was definately worth it though, it was only $150 for the vinal work and $100 for the plates. I would do it over again in a heart beat. I think it showed people who saw me every day that I was serious about doing this, I was committed. All though I might not have gotten a referral directly from it, I'm sure indirectly it built up recognition that I was in the business.

Hi Beth and Kelly: I will check out Vista Prints. FYI, I have a magnetic rider on my car, AND I get people all of the time commenting, "I saw you here, there, etc." I just do it for name recognition PLUS I drive a red car.......goes along with The LadyInRed..............

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